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Virulent Newcastle Disease

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Virulent Newcastle disease, formerly known as exotic Newcastle disease, is a

contagious and fatal viral disease of birds and poultry. It attacks their respiratory,

nervous, and digestive systems. Many birds and poultry die without showing any

clinical signs.
Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern. Properly cooked poultry

products are safe to eat. In very rare cases, people working directly with sick birds

can develop mild symptoms, such as conjunctivitis. This is easily prevented by using

personal protective equipment.

What To Look For

Virulent Newcastle disease spreads quickly. Signs can include:

Sudden death and increased death loss in flock

Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing

Greenish, watery diarrhea

Ruffled feathers

Lack of appetite

Decreased activity, tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck,

circling, complete stiffness

Swelling around the eyes and neck

Marked decrease in egg production and egg quality

How To Prevent This Disease

Virulent Newcastle disease spreads when healthy birds come in direct contact with

bodily fluids from sick birds. The disease affects almost all birds and poultry, even

vaccinated poultry. The virus can travel on manure, egg flats, crates, other farming

materials or equipment, and people who have picked up the virus on their clothing,

shoes, or hands. In a single day, the virus can multiply and infect every bird on your

premises. The best way to keep your poultry healthy is to practice biosecurity.

Restrict traffic onto and off your property.

Disinfect shoes, clothes, hands, egg trays or flats, crates, vehicles, and tires.

Avoid visits to other poultry farms or bird owners. If you do visit, be sure to

change clothes and clean your hands and shoes before entering your own bird

area.

Wash hands and scrub boots before and after entering a poultry area.
Isolate/quarantine any birds returning from shows for 30 days to look for any

signs of disease before placing them with the rest of the flock.

When introducing new birds to your flock:

Buy from a reputable hatchery or dealer, and request certification from

suppliers that the birds were legally imported or come from U.S. stock and were

healthy before shipment.

Maintain records of all sales and shipments of flocks.

Keep new birds separated from your other birds for at least 30 days.

Keep young and old birds and birds of different species and from different

sources apart.

Visit Defend the Flock to find more tips for preventing this and other poultry

diseases. Visit Virulent Newcastle Disease Emergency Response to learn how APHIS

would respond to an outbreak.

How It Is Treated

There is no treatment. If you are concerned or suspect your birds may have virulent

Newcastle disease, call your accredited veterinarian immediately. Your accredited

veterinarian will contact the correct officials in your State and give you instructions

on enhancing biosecurity so the disease is not spread to other healthy birds.

Report Signs of Animal Disease

Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their

veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. Find an accredited veterinarian.

Animal health professionals (veterinarians; diagnostic laboratories; public health,

zoo, or wildlife personnel; and others) report diagnosed or suspected cases of

nationally listed reportable animal diseases to APHIS District Offices and to the State

animal health official as applicable under State reporting regulations. 

Controlling Virulent Newcastle Disease
Epidemiologic Analyses of Previous Outbreaks

Epidemiologic Analyses of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Poultry in California

(March 2021)

Epidemiologic Analyses of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Poultry (July 2019)

Epidemiologic Analyses of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Backyard Birds (August

2018)

Epidemiologic Analyses of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Backyard Birds

(December 2018)